SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego Unified School District officials Tuesday are set to discuss a set of critical issues facing the district this year surrounding sexual education, Muslim anti-bullying, and drinking water conditions.
District leaders will try to clarify these issues and policies for parents ahead of the 2017-2018 school year.
SEXUAL EDUCATION
Parents are upset with the district's sexual education program, calling it cartoon pornography and "too much, too son" for their children, some who could be as young as 10-years-old. A petition has been started online, arguing lessons go beyond California laws on sex ed, and encourages sexual curiosity and experimentation.
RELATED: Upset parents start petition against SDUSD sex education curriculum
Parents are set to hold protests outside the board meeting over the district's sexual education program, demanding a new curriculum for their children.
The district says the cartoons are informational and lessons are age-appropriate. Officials said parents also have the option to opt-out of the education, as the parents of nearly 200 students have already decided to do.
The curriculum was started for 6th-grade, 8th-grade and high school students last October.
Tuesday night results:
- The curriculum stays in place. Going forward, the board promised to make it more clear that parents can opt out of the curriculum.
- The controversial video link from the online resource page has been removed.
- The people who designed the curriculum said the video was designed to emphasize that porn is an unrealistic depiction of reality and to spark conversation with kids and parents.
MUSLIM ANTI-BULLYING
SDUSD chose to tackle to issue of bullying of Muslim students last April, approving a plan to raise awareness about Islam.
RELATED: Parents file lawsuit over SDUSD Muslim anti-bullying program
District leaders chose to do so after a study revealed Muslim students are bullied at a high rate than non-Muslim students in California.
Six parents sued the district, saying the policy is unconstitutional and favors one religion over another. The parents argue there have not been enough instances of bullying to warrant the policy.
Tuesday night results:
- In a unanimous vote, the board decided to expand their "no place for hate" anti-bullying campaign.
- They will also create a diversity round table of adults to get increased input about cultural tolerance and education
DRINKING WATER
Currently, schools and the district can only intervene if school's test positive for lead amounts higher than the state's standards.
RELATED: San Diego Unified School District developing a plan to address lead levels
However, SDUSD leaders said California's acceptable standards for lead in drinking water is set too high.
The plan officials will look at tonight would lower the testing level for schools and the district to take appropriate action.
Tuesday night results:
- Passed unanimously by the board.
- Action Threshold will drop from 15 parts per. billion down to 5 parts per billion.
